When is a festival not a festival? Or more precisely, when is a music festival not a music festival? Well, when it’s the Flat Lake Festival for a start. If I had a pound for every person who told me that Flat Lake was their favourite festival then I’d have, oh, 30 quid, for sure. Not much maybe, but probably 29 quid more than I’d make off the back of any other festival taking place over the course of the summer!

The Flat Lake, and this is its beauty, doesn’t see the world in the same way as the rest of the world. Down with music, they say. We had too much last year and we’re not going to make that mistake again. Last year, it has to be said was overshadowed by the whole, ‘Will Lily Allen get up with Crystal Swing’ debacle, and the fact that she did, god love her, didn’t really do the festival many favours. It brought a distinct whiff of Carry On to the normally Pythonesque proceedings. So this year they’ve brought on a Roman phalanx of literary greats. In addition to the cracked-genius-in-residence Pat McCabe, whose wonderfully chaotic stream of consciousness makes the website such an entertaining read (spelling ‘miscakes’ and all), this year’s festival will also bring John Banville to a front lawn in Monaghan along with classics and heavyweights like Ulick O’Connor, Tom McIntyre, Gina Moxley, Anthony Cronin and our own Peter Murphy.
Of course, all that literary greatness in one place could get a bit on the stuffy side, so there’ll also be the Sports Day; a kids’ area with a petting farm; a mud slide; the smallest fully sprung dancefloor in Ireland; the Flat Lake’s ‘Strongest Man’, ‘Chuck The Sheaf’; The Clones Film Festival Tent, which tucked away on Sunday afternoon will be showing Dearbhla Glynn and Aprile Blake’s brace of documentaries about the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert; the Gonzo Theatre Marquee with such goodies as Belfast’s Wireless Theatre Company recreating plays from the golden age of radio; and the always-on-the money Brownbread Mixtape.
Then, of course, there is a rake of musical acts spread across the Butty Barn (from which Pat McCabe broadcasts Radio Butty), The DB Audio Big Top and the Boudoir Sessions Tent. Meanwhile, Flat Lake favourite Jinx Lennon returns for what will be his fourth visit to Hilton Park. His erstwhile partner Miss Paula Flynn, who is currently beavering away on the follow-up to her eponymous debut album, will be playing the festival in a solo capacity for the first time. There are other fresh faces in the form of The Amazing Few, Navan’s Henrietta Game – who are causing quite a few ripples with their debut single ‘Sleep Then’ lifted from the forthcoming album Black Ship – The Blood Red Mountain Band and The Sons of Robert Mitchum. On the McEntees Campfire Stage, the Féile Oriel Sessions will make sure that there is start to finish traditional music throughout the festival. Get there if at all you can!
Where could be more fitting to run a season of folk gigs than in Dublin’s Workman’s Club? In association with the Spirit of Folk festival taking place at Dunderry Park, Co. Meath over the weekend of September 23 – 25, the Wellington Quay venue will be staging a season of gigs under the banner of ‘What The Folk’ every Monday night throughout the summer, beginning next Monday, June 6. Each week, three acts will take to the stage, with one act going on to play at the festival, where the music line-up includes such exotics as Dr. Strangely Strange (one of the great almost lost gems of early ‘70s folk); Gay Woods, whose own back pages make quite a read; as well as some performers of a more recent vintage like Fiach; the Lisas – McLaughlin and O’Neill – and Arrow In The Sky.
The festival, which aims to raise funds for the Oaktree Charitable Trust, which has worked in the past with the Rape Crisis Centre, and in co-operation with the Tara Centre, with victims of the Omagh bombing, features a ‘Living History’ area where you’ll be able to see ancient crafts and skills brought to life by experimental archaeologists. There will be a chance to witness some of the festival’s weaponsmiths’ products in action (from a safe distance) as they stage battle re-enactments. Not your usual festival fare. Nor is the specially constructed shamanic dome, where you’ll not only be able to take part in a range of talks and workshops on spirituality, but also experience Irish Shamanic and Druidic ceremonies in an intimate and immersive environment. There’ll also be a smorgasbord of storytellers who will be spinning all manner of lively and legendary yarns in the Cairn! On top of all this, there will be a games area, falconry displays, archery, and a whole host of market stalls!...
Ane Brun is gearing up to release her fourth album It All Starts With One this Autumn. Indeed, the lead single ‘Do You Remember’ has just been released. The most obvious ‘pop’ song on the record, it is coupled with the darkly satisfying ‘One Last Try’. Of course, all this was really meant to happen a year ago but was postponed when both Peter Gabriel and Ani DiFranco – two artists who have meant a lot to Ane – asked her to join them on international tours. Peter Gabriel’s collaboration with the Scandinavian singer-songwriter continues on his next album New Blood, due to be released this year. She last visited Ireland in 2009 in support of her album Changing Of The Seasons, but will be returning to these shores when she plays Whelan’s in Dublin on Saturday November 12...